‘Laughing stock’: Essendon panned for treatment of coach Ben Rutten

Essendon has been torn to shreds for blindsiding its head coach after the Bombers’ failed attempt to poach Alastair Clarkson.

Bombers head coach Ben Rutten. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Poor Ben Rutten.

Essendon has been torn to shreds for blindsiding its head coach after four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson signed a five-year deal with his former club North Melbourne.

On Friday morning, North Melbourne confirmed that Clarkson would become the club’s fourth coach in five years, penning a deal worth approximately $1.1 million per season.

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After Essendon president Paul Brasher stepped down from his position earlier this week, there was growing speculation Clarkson would replace Rutten at the Bombers.

However, Friday’s announcement has only muddied the waters in Tullamarine.

The club’s 11th-hour attempt to poach Clarkson instead left Rutten, who is contracted for one more season, in an untenable position.

Rutten has been under constant pressure since the Bombers started its tumultuous 2022 campaign with just two wins from the opening 12 rounds.

The 39-year-old could be forced to step away from the role after being publicly undermined by his own club, but if he does choose to leave Essendon, the former Adelaide fullback is expected to have a plethora of options at other clubs as a senior assistant.

Newly-appointed Essendon president David Barham addressed the media on Friday ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Richmond Tigers, confirming the board would make a decision about Rutten’s future on Sunday.

Barham defended the club’s failed pursuit of Clarkson, claiming he would have been “derelict in his duty” if he didn’t speak with the former Hawthorn coach.

“If the best coach in the past 20 years is out there, I would be derelict in my duty to not go and talk to him,” he told reporters.

“If I don’t go and see him, what do you think the members would think of me?

“Yes this has been ugly and the fallout for Ben is horrible and I apologise for that, but I need to do what’s best for the club.”

Barham also apologised for not contacting Rutten after reports emerged he had been stood down on Monday, admitting it was a “mistake”.

“Players are disappointed they weren‘t more consulted, and I have to live with that,” he said.

According to the Herald Sun, former Bombers coach James Hird has emerged as a serious contender to replace Rutten next year.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Clarkson confessed: “It really disappoints me what‘s happened with (Ben Rutten) out at the Bombers. He’s a good man, and a good football person.”

Bombers head coach Ben Rutten. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Earlier on Friday, Rutten’s manager Adam Ramanauskas fumed at the ongoing media speculation, arguing Essendon has handled the situation poorly.

“I think it’s been really disappointing. You’ve got to look at the human side … the way he’s been treated is fundamentally not right,” he told RSN radio.

“Whether that’s Ben Rutten or another senior coach, we’ve got to understand there’s only 18 of these jobs available in the country, it’s a very high-pressure job. The way you treat these individuals is critical to the success at your football club.

“I just think the way and the manner in which it’s been handled has been poor.

“It needs to be clear communication, and that comes from senior leaders at a football club. “Ben is still under contract, Ben’s still got another 12 months remaining on his contract, but the club has openly said they’re speaking to another senior coach.

“Three weeks ago they said publicly he’s their coach. I’m not sure how that’s fair that you’re treating a person in this manner.

“A lot of people will say, ‘The club has got to be ruthless’ — that’s fine, but communicate with people if you’re going to go down this path. Have a clear plan set out.

“It’s fair to say Monday and probably half of Tuesday were pretty difficult days because no one was telling him what was going on.

“He was reading on Monday that he’s been sacked. There was nobody telling him otherwise, which is a really hard situation for anyone to be in.

“He was calling a lot of people and wasn’t getting much response back at that stage.

“That’s what I’m talking about — the communication and the way the club behaves — they’ve got to line up.”

Bombers head coach Ben Rutten. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Inevitably, Essendon’s treatment of Rutten has been widely condemned by the footy community.

Sports broadcaster Daniel Garb branded the situation “a bungling”, while The Advocate’s Alex Fair called it an “absolute shambles”.

Footy reporter Ronny Lerner tweeted: “As for Essendon, ‘laughing stock’ doesn’t do them justice. Actively pursuing Clarkson while Rutten was still in the job, then failing to get their man. I can’t recall a more awkward or undignified situation. Words fail me.”

Former West Coast defender Will Schofield posted: “What a complete and utter butchering by Essendon – they still have a coach, who they clearly don’t want, board is spilling and now look completely lost. Weren’t they winning the premiership this year?”

ESPN’s Matt Walsh tweeted: “Poor Ben Rutten. Him coaching Essendon again in 2023 would be like getting back with your partner after they fooled around a lil bit with someone else who they actually like more. And everyone knows about it. Grim.”

Great, so Essendon manage to totally undermine the current coach to the point where his position is basically untenable, and still didn't manage to land Alastair Clarkson. Now we have the worst of both worlds. Classic Bombers.

— Jarni Blakkarly (@JarniBlakkarly) August 18, 2022

Huge call. Essendon powerbrokers tearing the club apart for nothing. Surely they can’t just decide to keep Rutten after the way they’ve treated him the last few days. https://t.co/GhFbBTZwjw

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) August 18, 2022

Pleased to hear Clarkson will go to @NMFCOfficial. They never catch a break. Messy stuff from @essendonfc. Got to feel for Ben Rutten & perhaps the board have set their club back even further.

— Scott Carbines (@scottcarbines) August 18, 2022

Poor Ben Rutten, man.

Bloke got handed a giant bag of coal amidst a dumpster fire and is being scapegoated for not miraculously turning it into diamonds. Absurd.

— Peter Hooley (@PeterHooley12) August 19, 2022

Speaking to SEN Breakfast on Friday morning, Kangaroos legend David King called it a “massive day” for the North Melbourne Football Club.

“Can I say well done (club president) Sonja Hood? She was prepared to cop the backlash that was going to come if the attempt was a failed one,” he said.

“Let’s hope he can correct what has been a shambolic situation over the previous couple of years.

“This is so good. So good for the Kangas. Essendon will be all the talk, but this is a great day for North Melbourne.”

After qualifying to the finals last year, Essendon looks destined to finish in the bottom four on the AFL ladder this season.